diff --git a/internal-api/src/main/java/datadog/trace/util/FlatHashtable.java b/internal-api/src/main/java/datadog/trace/util/FlatHashtable.java
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..ac9abf37522
--- /dev/null
+++ b/internal-api/src/main/java/datadog/trace/util/FlatHashtable.java
@@ -0,0 +1,152 @@
+package datadog.trace.util;
+
+import java.lang.reflect.Array;
+
+/**
+ * Open-addressed, single-array find-or-create over <b>self-contained entries</b> — each slot is one
+ * reference to an entry that carries its own key (and, typically, a cached hash). One array, one
+ * reference per slot: entry publication is a single reference store, so a reader sees {@code null} or
+ * a complete entry (never a torn one), and {@code final} identity fields on the entry are visible
+ * under racy publication. That sidesteps the memory-ordering / visibility problems parallel
+ * key/hash/value arrays would create — no {@code volatile}, no atomics — as long as the payload is
+ * one where a stale/lost read is benign (miss → recreate; clobber → one wins).
+ *
+ * <p><b>Static polymorphism (C++-template-style).</b> The per-use policy is a {@link Helper} — a
+ * <b>stateless</b> subclass held by each caller as a {@code static final} field <i>declared with the
+ * concrete helper type</i> (not the {@code Helper} base):
+ *
+ * <pre>{@code
+ * private static final MyHelper HELPER = new MyHelper();  // concrete type => exact type pinned
+ * ...
+ * V v = FlatHashtable.getOrCreate(table, key, HELPER);
+ * }</pre>
+ *
+ * Because {@code HELPER} is a compile-time-constant of an exact type at the call site, once these
+ * small {@code Support} methods inline the JIT devirtualizes and inlines {@code hash}/{@code
+ * matches}/{@code create} — each call site specializes to straight-line code, one instantiation per
+ * helper, with no CHA/type-profiling dependence. Keep the methods small so they inline; verify with
+ * {@code -XX:+PrintInlining} (the failure mode is silent: it compiles and runs, just stays
+ * megamorphic and slow). {@code Helper} is an abstract class, so a distinct final subclass is required
+ * anyway — an exact type gives the inliner an unambiguous receiver.
+ *
+ * <p><b>Contract:</b> {@code table.length} must be a power of two ({@link #capacityFor}). {@code
+ * helper.hash} should be well-distributed (this class masks it directly). Cardinality cap / overflow
+ * / a live-size counter are <b>caller policy</b> (this class is pure mechanism): a capped caller does
+ * {@link #get} first, and only on a miss checks its budget before {@link #getOrCreate} (so hits stay
+ * a single probe and the create path is warmup-rare).
+ */
+public final class FlatHashtable {
+  private FlatHashtable() {}
+
+  /**
+   * Per-use policy. Extend as a <b>stateless</b> final class and hold a {@code static final} singleton
+   * of the concrete type (see class doc) so the JIT can specialize each call site.
+   *
+   * <p>An abstract <b>class</b> (not an interface) on purpose: it forces a named helper type (no
+   * lambdas, which can blur the receiver the inliner needs), and if specialization ever misses, the
+   * fallback dispatches via {@code invokevirtual} rather than the costlier megamorphic {@code
+   * invokeinterface}. On the specialized (inlined) path the choice is a wash — this just hedges the
+   * fallback and lets shared bits be {@code final}-sealed later.
+   *
+   * @param <K> lookup key
+   * @param <V> stored entry — self-contained (carries its own key, ideally a cached hash)
+   */
+  public abstract static class Helper<K, V> {
+    /** Hash of {@code key}; should be well-distributed (this table masks it directly). */
+    public abstract int hash(K key);
+
+    /** Whether the stored {@code value} entry is the one for {@code key}. */
+    public abstract boolean matches(K key, V value);
+
+    /** Mint a new entry for {@code key} (called once, on insert). */
+    public abstract V create(K key);
+  }
+
+  /**
+   * {@link Helper} specialized for {@code String} keys: seals a spread {@link #hash} so String-key
+   * callers write only {@link #matches} and {@link #create}. Extend as a stateless final class held in
+   * a concrete-typed {@code static final} singleton, exactly like {@link Helper} — the {@code final}
+   * hash resolves directly and the concrete subclass still specializes the same at each call site, so
+   * there's no cost to the extra layer.
+   *
+   * @param <V> stored entry — self-contained (carries its own key, ideally a cached hash)
+   */
+  public abstract static class StringHelper<V> extends Helper<String, V> {
+    @Override
+    public final int hash(String key) {
+      final int h = key.hashCode();
+      return h ^ (h >>> 16); // spread; FlatHashtable masks this directly
+    }
+  }
+
+  /** Power-of-two capacity for a cardinality budget: {@code >= 2 * limit} (load factor <= 0.5). */
+  public static int capacityFor(int cardinalityLimit) {
+    if (cardinalityLimit <= 0) {
+      throw new IllegalArgumentException("cardinalityLimit must be positive: " + cardinalityLimit);
+    }
+    return Integer.highestOneBit(cardinalityLimit * 2 - 1) << 1;
+  }
+
+  /**
+   * Allocates a correctly-typed table for a cardinality budget ({@link #capacityFor} slots). Passing
+   * {@code type} makes the array's runtime component type {@code T} rather than {@code Object[]} —
+   * typed reads, real array-store checks, and a monomorphic element type for the JIT. Callers can't
+   * {@code new T[]} themselves under erasure; this does the one reflective allocation at construction
+   * (off any hot path). Note: this {@code create} mints the backing array; {@link Helper#create}
+   * mints an entry — different types, no ambiguity at the call site.
+   */
+  @SuppressWarnings("unchecked")
+  public static <T> T[] create(Class<T> type, int cardinalityLimit) {
+    return (T[]) Array.newInstance(type, capacityFor(cardinalityLimit));
+  }
+
+  /**
+   * Existing entry for {@code key}, or {@code null}. Read-only — never creates. Single probe on a
+   * hit; walks to the first empty slot (or all the way around) on a miss.
+   */
+  public static <K, V> V get(V[] table, K key, Helper<K, V> helper) {
+    final int mask = table.length - 1;
+    final int start = helper.hash(key) & mask;
+    int i = start;
+    for (; ; ) {
+      final V e = table[i];
+      if (e == null) {
+        return null; // empty slot terminates the probe (no tombstones)
+      }
+      if (helper.matches(key, e)) {
+        return e;
+      }
+      i = (i + 1) & mask;
+      if (i == start) {
+        return null; // wrapped ⇒ full, absent
+      }
+    }
+  }
+
+  /**
+   * Existing entry for {@code key}, or a freshly {@link Helper#create created} + inserted one.
+   * Returns {@code null} only if the table is full (no empty slot) — the caller supplies its overflow
+   * default. The insert is a single plain reference store: a concurrent clobber / double-create is
+   * acceptable only when the payload makes it benign (see class doc).
+   */
+  public static <K, V> V getOrCreate(V[] table, K key, Helper<K, V> helper) {
+    final int mask = table.length - 1;
+    final int start = helper.hash(key) & mask;
+    int i = start;
+    for (; ; ) {
+      final V e = table[i];
+      if (e == null) {
+        final V created = helper.create(key);
+        table[i] = created; // single-reference publish; benign clobber (see class doc)
+        return created;
+      }
+      if (helper.matches(key, e)) {
+        return e;
+      }
+      i = (i + 1) & mask;
+      if (i == start) {
+        return null; // wrapped ⇒ full
+      }
+    }
+  }
+}
diff --git a/internal-api/src/test/java/datadog/trace/util/FlatHashtableTest.java b/internal-api/src/test/java/datadog/trace/util/FlatHashtableTest.java
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..9bebfa9c45a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/internal-api/src/test/java/datadog/trace/util/FlatHashtableTest.java
@@ -0,0 +1,178 @@
+package datadog.trace.util;
+
+import static org.junit.jupiter.api.Assertions.assertEquals;
+import static org.junit.jupiter.api.Assertions.assertNotSame;
+import static org.junit.jupiter.api.Assertions.assertNull;
+import static org.junit.jupiter.api.Assertions.assertSame;
+import static org.junit.jupiter.api.Assertions.assertThrows;
+import static org.junit.jupiter.api.Assertions.assertTrue;
+
+import org.junit.jupiter.api.Test;
+
+class FlatHashtableTest {
+
+  /** Self-contained entry: carries its own key (the identity FlatHashtable relies on). */
+  static final class Entry {
+    final String key;
+
+    Entry(String key) {
+      this.key = key;
+    }
+  }
+
+  /** Stateless concrete helper, held as a concrete-typed static final singleton (the JIT idiom). */
+  static final class EntryHelper extends FlatHashtable.StringHelper<Entry> {
+    @Override
+    public boolean matches(String key, Entry value) {
+      return key.equals(value.key);
+    }
+
+    @Override
+    public Entry create(String key) {
+      return new Entry(key);
+    }
+  }
+
+  private static final EntryHelper HELPER = new EntryHelper();
+
+  /** All keys hash to slot 0, so inserts chain by linear probing — exercises the probe path. */
+  static final class CollidingHelper extends FlatHashtable.Helper<String, Entry> {
+    @Override
+    public int hash(String key) {
+      return 0;
+    }
+
+    @Override
+    public boolean matches(String key, Entry value) {
+      return key.equals(value.key);
+    }
+
+    @Override
+    public Entry create(String key) {
+      return new Entry(key);
+    }
+  }
+
+  private static final CollidingHelper COLLIDING = new CollidingHelper();
+
+  /** All keys hash to the last slot ({@code -1 & mask}), so probing wraps around to index 0. */
+  static final class LastSlotHelper extends FlatHashtable.Helper<String, Entry> {
+    @Override
+    public int hash(String key) {
+      return -1;
+    }
+
+    @Override
+    public boolean matches(String key, Entry value) {
+      return key.equals(value.key);
+    }
+
+    @Override
+    public Entry create(String key) {
+      return new Entry(key);
+    }
+  }
+
+  private static final LastSlotHelper LAST_SLOT = new LastSlotHelper();
+
+  @Test
+  void capacityFor_roundsToPowerOfTwoAtLeastTwiceLimit() {
+    assertEquals(2, FlatHashtable.capacityFor(1));
+    assertEquals(8, FlatHashtable.capacityFor(4));
+    assertEquals(16, FlatHashtable.capacityFor(6)); // 6*2-1=11 -> 8 -> 16
+  }
+
+  @Test
+  void capacityFor_rejectsNonPositive() {
+    assertThrows(IllegalArgumentException.class, () -> FlatHashtable.capacityFor(0));
+    assertThrows(IllegalArgumentException.class, () -> FlatHashtable.capacityFor(-1));
+  }
+
+  @Test
+  void create_allocatesTypedTableOfCapacity() {
+    Entry[] table = FlatHashtable.create(Entry.class, 4);
+    assertEquals(8, table.length);
+    assertEquals(Entry.class, table.getClass().getComponentType());
+  }
+
+  @Test
+  void getOrCreate_insertsOnceAndReturnsTheExistingEntry() {
+    Entry[] table = FlatHashtable.create(Entry.class, 8);
+    Entry first = FlatHashtable.getOrCreate(table, "a", HELPER);
+    assertEquals("a", first.key);
+    // A second call must return the SAME instance, not mint a new one.
+    assertSame(first, FlatHashtable.getOrCreate(table, "a", HELPER));
+    assertSame(first, FlatHashtable.get(table, "a", HELPER));
+  }
+
+  @Test
+  void get_returnsNullForAbsentKey() {
+    Entry[] table = FlatHashtable.create(Entry.class, 8);
+    assertNull(FlatHashtable.get(table, "missing", HELPER));
+    FlatHashtable.getOrCreate(table, "present", HELPER);
+    assertNull(FlatHashtable.get(table, "still-missing", HELPER));
+  }
+
+  @Test
+  void getOrCreate_returnsNullWhenTableIsFull() {
+    // capacityFor(1) == 2 slots.
+    Entry[] table = FlatHashtable.create(Entry.class, 1);
+    assertTrue(FlatHashtable.getOrCreate(table, "k0", HELPER) != null);
+    assertTrue(FlatHashtable.getOrCreate(table, "k1", HELPER) != null);
+    // Both slots occupied by distinct keys -> a third distinct key finds no room.
+    assertNull(FlatHashtable.getOrCreate(table, "k2", HELPER));
+    // ...but an existing key still resolves even when full.
+    assertSame(
+        FlatHashtable.get(table, "k0", HELPER), FlatHashtable.getOrCreate(table, "k0", HELPER));
+  }
+
+  @Test
+  void stringHelper_hashIsStableForEqualKeys() {
+    assertEquals(HELPER.hash("route"), HELPER.hash(new String("route")));
+  }
+
+  @Test
+  void collision_probesPastOccupiedSlots_andResolvesEach() {
+    Entry[] table = FlatHashtable.create(Entry.class, 4); // 8 slots; COLLIDING sends all to slot 0
+    Entry a = FlatHashtable.getOrCreate(table, "a", COLLIDING);
+    Entry b = FlatHashtable.getOrCreate(table, "b", COLLIDING); // slot 0 taken -> probes to slot 1
+    Entry c = FlatHashtable.getOrCreate(table, "c", COLLIDING); // -> slot 2
+
+    assertNotSame(a, b);
+    assertNotSame(b, c);
+
+    // each resolves via probe-past-occupied + match-after-probe
+    assertSame(a, FlatHashtable.get(table, "a", COLLIDING));
+    assertSame(b, FlatHashtable.get(table, "b", COLLIDING));
+    assertSame(c, FlatHashtable.get(table, "c", COLLIDING));
+
+    // existing colliding key: found after probing, no new entry minted
+    assertSame(b, FlatHashtable.getOrCreate(table, "b", COLLIDING));
+
+    // absent key: probe past the 3 occupied slots, hit an empty slot -> null
+    assertNull(FlatHashtable.get(table, "absent", COLLIDING));
+  }
+
+  @Test
+  void collision_probeWrapsAroundToFront() {
+    Entry[] table =
+        FlatHashtable.create(Entry.class, 1); // 2 slots (0,1), mask=1; LAST_SLOT starts at 1
+    Entry k0 = FlatHashtable.getOrCreate(table, "k0", LAST_SLOT); // -> slot 1
+    Entry k1 = FlatHashtable.getOrCreate(table, "k1", LAST_SLOT); // slot 1 taken -> wraps to slot 0
+
+    assertNotSame(k0, k1);
+    assertSame(k0, FlatHashtable.get(table, "k0", LAST_SLOT));
+    // start slot 1 is occupied (no match) -> probe wraps to slot 0 -> match
+    assertSame(k1, FlatHashtable.get(table, "k1", LAST_SLOT));
+  }
+
+  @Test
+  void get_returnsNullWhenTableFullAndKeyAbsent() {
+    Entry[] table = FlatHashtable.create(Entry.class, 1); // 2 slots
+    FlatHashtable.getOrCreate(table, "k0", COLLIDING);
+    FlatHashtable.getOrCreate(table, "k1", COLLIDING); // fills slots 0 and 1
+
+    // get() probes both occupied slots, wraps back to start -> null (get's full-wrap branch)
+    assertNull(FlatHashtable.get(table, "absent", COLLIDING));
+  }
+}